This is an exciting time for us – the community continues to grow and over 5 billion photos have now been shared through Instagram. We’re humbled that so many people around the world use Instagram to share their lives with friends through photos. From weddings to epic pilgrimages through the Spanish countryside, we’re constantly amazed by the stories that are shared on Instagram, and we thank you for being a part of this growing community.

What makes this even more exciting is that our deal with Facebook has closed, which means we can now work together to evolve and build a better Instagram for everyone. While our team is making the short move to the Facebook offices, Instagram isn’t going anywhere. The Instagram app and its features will stay the same one you know and love, and we’ll keep working together to build a better Instagram for everyone.

Today, in spite of the explosive negativity that quickly surpassed the news of the acquisition itself, Instagram continues to thrive as a fun, interesting, and involving community. With over five billion photographs, the service has unquestionably not fallen into disuse and disrepair. Quite the contrary, with the arrival of Photo Maps and continuing UI enhancements, Instagram's affability continues to grow on a day-to-day basis.

Standing in stark contrast to Twitter's deplorable behavior, Instagram remains unchallenged as an affable source for escape, artistic relief, and enjoyable utility. Moreover, despite its obvious allegiance with Facebook, Instagram remains on a trajectory of its own definition.

Today, with the finalization of the acquisition, however, I suspect fear-mongering will once again descend into a self-serving echo-chamber of pointlessness. Fearful that Instagram might be subsumed by Facebook, pundits will inevitably make the case that, despite Facebook's repeated statements to the contrary, Instagram will quickly become a shell of its former self.

And yet, as I wrote emphatically in May, Facebook has a vested interest in the sustenance of the Instagram we all know and love. Retaining the independence of Instagram is tantamount to Facebook's resurgence as a likable and mobile-centric entity in the social networking arena. Perhaps the temptation will constantly be there for Facebook to undercut the goodness of Instagram, but I tend to reserve cautious optimism that such a betrayal shall not come to pass.

Constantly threatened by Twitter for the past few years, Facebook is faced with the unique opportunity to ingratiate itself with a heretofore alienated and disinterested community of technologists. If the social network is able to navigate these treacherous waters effectively, the benefits could be enormous.

Thus, irrespective of any fearful perspectives shared within the community, I choose to remain engaged and active on Instagram. Moreover, lacking any futile panicking for the future sanctity of the service at the hands of its owners, I choose to do something which is evidently rather controversial: enjoy a service that I find enjoyable, affable, and immersive. I choose to embrace something I enjoy, regardless of any perceived threat that might impact my usage in the ethereal bounds of the possible future.